Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his office may soon have expanded authority under four bills currently being considered by the Texas Senate. These bills would need to pass both the House and Senate before becoming law.
One of the proposed bills, Senate Bill 318, would establish an election integrity division in the attorney general’s office to investigate allegations of election fraud and other violations. This division would have the power to issue administrative subpoenas to political subdivisions in Texas to compel witness testimony and document production for investigations.
Critics, including Democratic Senators Roland Gutierrez and Royce West, questioned the intent of the bill, suggesting that it could give Paxton’s office more authority to investigate and prosecute election crimes. However, Senator Brandon Creighton, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the focus is on investigation rather than prosecution.
Another controversial bill, SB 1026, would require the attorney general to prosecute criminal election law offenses if local law enforcement finds probable cause but the local prosecutor has not initiated proceedings within six months. This bill aims to restore the attorney general’s power to prosecute election crimes.
There are concerns that these bills could limit local prosecutors’ authority and perpetuate false beliefs about widespread voter fraud. However, supporters argue that these measures are necessary to ensure election integrity.
The bills passed the State Affairs Committee and are now moving forward in the legislative process. If approved, these bills would significantly impact the authority and responsibilities of the Texas Attorney General’s office.
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